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"$ Patented Mar. 7, I899; J. M. BARNETT.

LAST.

(Application filed Jan, 6, 1898.)

(No Model.)

VVITNEEEEE INVENT'CIR um m. B clamp/U3 66 Win/tat 3 ma Nirnn STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JOHN M. BARNETT, on LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Not-620,827, dated March 7, 1899.

Application filed January 6, 1898. Serial No- 665fl50. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. BARNETT, of

tour of the intended boot is securely fixed, to

remove the lasting-last and substitute in place thereof a follower-last, the function of the follower-last being mainly to keep the upper from being unduly twisted or collapsed and crushed or similarly damaged while going through the different processes of work and handling. Commonly the follower-last is of smaller size or differently shaped than the lasting-las't, to the end that it may be easily and quickly removed for giving place to the forms and tool parts of different machines employed in doing the work which comes after the lasting operation and replaced into the chamber of the upper after the occasion for removal is past; and it is the object of this present invention to provide a follower-last adapted for keeping automatically to the shape of the upper and requiring the leastpossible amount of work in the process of. its introduction and removal from the chamber of the boot or shoe upper.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing oneside of a last support or standard and the last in longitudinal central section.

A last embodying this invention comprises a bottom part 2 and a top or instep'part 3. As shown in the present instance, said parts are of one piece of'material, preferably of Wood, the invention being carried out by first giving to the block of solid wood a shape and contour the same or approximately the same as that of the lasting-last after which it is designed to follow, and then removing the intermediate part of said material which lies between the said bottom part 2 and the instep part 3, whereby the said instep part is left with its foremost end in connection permanently with the bottom part, its body and rearmost end being elevated from the bottom part, whereby to permit being depressed toward the bottom part for reducing the circumferential or girth measure of the last,which movement, being in response to an inwardly acting force, will spring-bend the material of said instep part 3 from the normal relation to said bottom part and develop therein a force for returning the instep part to the elevated or normal position whenever the inwardlyacting force is removed. I consider it advisable at times to employ an auxiliary force in this connection, and to that end a spring 4 is interposed between the parts,which spring,

being contracted by the closing together of said parts, will operate to restore the parts to the normal position upon removal of the closing strain; but this auxiliary force or spring 4 will not be required unless to strengthen the action of a weak material, except in the event of the bottom and instep parts being formed of separate materials and permanently hinged or'pivoted together at the point of intersection, which construction is considered to be fairly within the scope of this invention.

The stud 5, being firmly seated invthe bot tom part 2, extends upward in a suitable opening through. the instep part 3 and has on its top end a head in position to bear upon the said instep part when in the normal or most elevated position allowed thereto, and this head, it will be understood, prevents the instep part from being unduly elevated and carelessly or accidentally turned from its connection with the bottom part 2.

In use the boot or shoe upper is applied and buttoned or tied while the last is held with the instep part depressed, after which the pressure is removed and the instep part allowed to act upwardly for straining and holding the upper materials in shape and safe from injury by crushing.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings is shown a standard having provision for holding the last in the position desired for receiving the shoeupper, and for this purpose said standard carries the pin 8, which pin enters a suitablyformed hole 9 in the last and engages with the cross-pin 10 at the bottom of said hole. The length of the pin 8 relatively to the end of the standard is such as to require the instep part to be pressed in order for the pin to enter the hole 9 sufficiently to be engaged with the cross-pin 10. The pin 8 is cut away at the sides, whereby to allow the end thereof to be passed below the level of cross-pin 10 when the side is presented theretoward, after which a quarter-turn of the last will operate to set the pin 8 under the pin 10 and secure the required position of the last, as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim- 1. A last as indicated, composed of a single piece of material, comprising a bottom or body part, 2, and a top or instep part, 3, said instep part having its foremost end connected with the part, 2, its rearmost end and body part being separated from and normally elevated to a distance above the part, 2, and adapted for yielding toward the part, 2, when pressed upon and automatically resuming the normal position when such pressure is removed, substantially as described.

2. A last as indicated, composed of a single piece of wood material, comprising a bottom or body part, 2, and a top or instep part, 3, a portion of the intermediate material being removed between said parts, whereby the instep part is left with its foremost end connected with the bottom part, its rearmost end and body part being normally at a distance above the bottom part, 2, and adapted for yielding theretoward when pressed upon and automatically resume the normal position when the pressure is removed, substantially as described.

3. A last as indicated, composed of a single piece of material, comprising a bottom or body part, 2, and a top or instep part, 3, said instep part having its foremost end connected with said part, 2, its rearmost end and body part being separated from and normally elevated to a distance above said part, 2, and adapted for yielding toward said part, 2, when pressed upon and automatically resuming the normal position when the pressure is removed, combined with an auxiliary spring device interposed between the said parts, 2 and 3, for assisting the return or uplifting movement of the part, 3, substantially as described.

4. Alast as indicated, composed of abottom or body part,2, and a top or instep part, 3, said instep part having its foremost end in connection with said part, 2, its body part and rearmost end being separated from and movable toward and from said part, 2, combined with means for holding the instep part normally in position with its rearmost end and body part elevated to a distance above said part, 2, said means adapted for yielding to permit movement of the instep part toward said part, 2, when pressed upon and for antomatically returning the instep part to its normal or elevated position when such pressure is removed, substantially as described.

5. Alast as indicated, composed of abottom or body part, 2, and a top or instep part, 3, said instep part havingits foremost end connected with said part, 2, its body and rearmost end being separated from and movable toward and from the said part, 2, combined with means for holding the instep part normally in position with its rearmost end and body part elevated to a distance above said part, 2, said means adapted for yielding to permit movement of the instep part toward the part, 2, when pressed upon and for antomatically returning the instep part to its normal or elevated position when such pressure is removed, and a stop contrivance arranged for limiting the movement of said parts relatively one from the other, substantially as described.

6. A last asindicated, composed ofa bottom or body part, 2, and a top or instep part, 3, said instep part having its foremost end connected with said part, 2, its rearmost end and body part being elevated from and movable toward and from said part, 2, combined with means for holding the instep part normally in position with its body part and rearmost end elevated to a distance above said part, 2, said means adapted for yielding to movement of the instep part toward said part, 2, when pressed upon and for automatically returning the instep part to its normal or elevated position when such pressure is removed and a support adapted for holding the last in position for use with the instep part, 3, in a depressed condition, substantially as described.

Signed at Lynn this 24th day of December, A. D. 1897.

JOHN M. BARNETT.

Witnesses:

C. B. TUTTLE, A. M. TUTTLE. 

